Episode 31

The Art of Flourishing: Becoming the Author of Your Life Narratives with Brad McLain

Would you like to be the architect of your own happiness and live a wholehearted life? All experiences are learning experiences, especially those that stem from tragedies and dark places.

Anil and Ashish sit down with Brad McLain, founder of Designing Transformative Experiences and a renowned social scientist, specializing in identity development, learning, and leadership. Brad shares his own story as well as insights that can unlock the possibility of living a wholehearted life.

In this episode, he talks about the meaning of happiness and how it evolved for him over time. He delves into the concept of being the author of your own life narratives and the importance of self-actualization. 

Brad reveals the seven elements of transformative experiences according to his ELVIS model and discusses how risk and discomfort can lead to personal growth and happiness. He also explores the power of narrating our experiences and shaping our identity narratives.

Brad shares his personal transformative experiences, including the impact of an inspiring teacher and his journey through a cancer diagnosis. He highlights the significance of choice, agency, and making meaning out of challenging circumstances. The conversation uncovers the importance of vulnerability and having open conversations about living a wholehearted life.

Listen now and enjoy as Brad McLain provides practical guidance on designing transformative experiences, embracing risk, and narrating our lives to unlock our own flourishing.


What You’ll Learn in this Show:

  • The meaning of happiness and its evolution for Brad.
  • Becoming the author of your own life narratives.
  • The seven elements of transformative experiences according to the ELVIS model.
  • Embracing risk and discomfort as catalysts for personal growth.
  • The power of narrating experiences and shaping identity narratives.
  • Practical tips for unlocking your own flourishing.
  • And so much more...


Resources:

Designingtransformativeexperiences.com 

LinkedIn: Brad McLain

Veronica Love | Powerful Tools To Wake You Up

My Happiness Squad Instagram

Ashish Kothari LinkedIn

Anil Ramjiani LinkedIn

Happiness Squad Youtube Channel



Books:

Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life

Designing Transformative Experiences: A Toolkit for Leaders, Trainers, Teachers, and other Experience Designers Byline : Brad McLain, PhD 

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari
The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari
Unlock your full potential with the Happiness Squad podcast! Host Ashish Kothari, Founder & CEO, brings leading experts to help you live with more joy, health, love, and meaning. Discover the art and science of happiness to live and operate at your best.

About your host

Profile picture for Ashish Kothari

Ashish Kothari

Ashish Kothari is the Founder and CEO of Happiness Squad, a company focused on democratizing happiness and touching a billion+ lives over the next 20 years and helping them live with more joy, health, love, and meaning.

Prior to founding Happiness Squad and writing his best-selling book “Hardwired for happiness”, Ashish spent 25 years in consulting, including the last 17 at McKinsey and Co, a premier management consulting firm, helping thousands of clients and their organizations achieve breakthrough performance by building new mindsets and capabilities.

Ashish is a trained ontological coach and a lifelong student of human thriving.